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US Secretary of State John Kerry says 'Assad must go' John Kerry urges Syrian opposition to attend Rome talks
(35 minutes later)
US Secretary of State John Kerry, on a visit to London, has said Syria's President Bashar al-Assad "must go". John Kerry has urged Syria's opposition to attend an international meeting in Rome this Thursday, on his first trip abroad as US Secretary of State.
Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague said the UK was preparing to "significantly increase" its support for Syria's opposition. Speaking in London, Mr Kerry said he understood Syrians wanted results from the summit and promised it would not just be a talking shop.
Earlier Mr Kerry met UK Prime Minister David Cameron, as part of his first trip abroad as US secretary of state. He has held talks with PM David Cameron and Foreign Secretary William Hague.
Mr Kerry, who succeeded Hillary Clinton, is on an 11-day tour of Europe and the Middle East. Syria's opposition has said it will not attend the Rome talks because of "the world's silence" over Syrian violence.
"The Assad regime has rained down rockets on the people of Aleppo" in the last few days, said Mr Kerry, and he condemned the "indiscriminate killing of civilians". Mr Hague said the UK was preparing to "significantly increase" its support for Syria's opposition.
In Berlin on Tuesday Mr Kerry will meet Syrian opposition members and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Political solutionPolitical solution
He urged the Syrian opposition to attend a conference in Rome on Thursday and said: "The Syrian people want results from that conference". Mr Kerry, who succeeded Hillary Clinton, is on an 11-day tour of Europe and the Middle East, and will meet Syrian opposition members and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Berlin on Tuesday.
"The Assad regime has rained down rockets on the people of Aleppo" in the last few days, said Mr Kerry, and he condemned the "indiscriminate killing of civilians".
He said such attacks were further evidence that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad should go.
Mr Hague said 70,000 people had been killed and he was "frustrated" at the lack of an international political solution, despite efforts at the UN.Mr Hague said 70,000 people had been killed and he was "frustrated" at the lack of an international political solution, despite efforts at the UN.
Earlier, the Syrian foreign minister said his government was ready for talks with its opponents, even armed rebels.
'Shared determination'
Mr Kerry said Britain and the US remained implacably opposed to the prospect of Iran obtaining nuclear weapons.Mr Kerry said Britain and the US remained implacably opposed to the prospect of Iran obtaining nuclear weapons.
He said: "An Iran with a nuclear weapon is simply unacceptable." "An Iran with a nuclear weapon is simply unacceptable," he said.
Mr Kerry told a press conference: "The window for a diplomatic solution simply cannot by definition remain open forever. But it is open today. It is open now. Mr Kerry told a news conference: "The window for a diplomatic solution simply cannot by definition remain open forever. But it is open today. It is open now.
"There is still time but there is only time if Iran makes the decision to come to the table and negotiate in good faith. We are prepared to negotiate in good faith, in mutual respect in an effort to avoid whatever terrible consequences could follow failure."There is still time but there is only time if Iran makes the decision to come to the table and negotiate in good faith. We are prepared to negotiate in good faith, in mutual respect in an effort to avoid whatever terrible consequences could follow failure.
"The choice really is in the hands of the Iranians. And we hope they will make the right choice," said Mr Kerry."The choice really is in the hands of the Iranians. And we hope they will make the right choice," said Mr Kerry.
A Downing Street spokesman said Mr Cameron and Mr Kerry "reiterated their shared determination to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran" and discussed "the challenges posed by fragile states around the world".A Downing Street spokesman said Mr Cameron and Mr Kerry "reiterated their shared determination to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran" and discussed "the challenges posed by fragile states around the world".
The prime minister's spokesman said Mr Kerry did not ask about Britain's possible future exit from the European Union but they did discuss a free trade agreement between the US and the EU and the possibility of taking the progress forward at the next G8 summit in Northern Ireland in June. The prime minister's spokesman said Mr Kerry did not ask about Britain's possible future exit from the European Union but he and Mr Cameron did discuss a free-trade agreement between the US and the EU and the possibility of making progress at the next G8 summit in Northern Ireland in June.
In all, Mr Kerry will visit nine countries, stopping off in Paris, Rome, Ankara, Cairo, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi and Doha. In all, Mr Kerry will visit nine countries, stopping off in Paris, Berlin, Rome, Ankara, Cairo, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi and Doha.
BBC diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall said: "What is clear is that the British government is pretty pleased that the US secretary of state decided that his first port of call on this his first major trip abroad should be Britain, he then goes on to European capitals... and it is in marked contrast with the last secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, who... rather pointedly went to Asia first." BBC diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall said: "What is clear is that the British government is pretty pleased that the US secretary of state decided that his first port of call on this - his first major trip abroad - should be Britain.
"He then goes on to European capitals... and it is in marked contrast with the last secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, who... rather pointedly went to Asia first."
Though the Middle East peace process will be on the agenda when he visits Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, Mr Kerry will not visit Israel or the Palestinian Territories.Though the Middle East peace process will be on the agenda when he visits Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, Mr Kerry will not visit Israel or the Palestinian Territories.
However, our correspondent says Mr Hague is hopeful his visit will herald a new enthusiasm for the peace process. However, our correspondent says Mr Hague is hopeful Mr Kerry's visit will herald a new enthusiasm for the peace process.
She says: "Mr Hague would like to see a renewed effort from the US to engage the different parties around the negotiating table."She says: "Mr Hague would like to see a renewed effort from the US to engage the different parties around the negotiating table."
Mr Kerry, former Massachusetts senator and 2004 Democratic presidential candidate, has spent almost three decades in the US Senate as a member of the Foreign Relations Committee.Mr Kerry, former Massachusetts senator and 2004 Democratic presidential candidate, has spent almost three decades in the US Senate as a member of the Foreign Relations Committee.